Last week the incredible diversity and range of climatic regimes in Maine was on full display. Here on the coast we had crocuses poking their colorful heads through the spruce boughs that had protected them from an “old fashioned” winter. Only two hours away and 4000 feet higher, winter was clearly still in charge at Sugarloaf Mtn. as rime frost coated the trees in an amazing display of Mother Nature’s beauty.

 

People often wonder what outside activities to participate in throughout our long winters in Midcoast Maine.  There is skating on the many ponds and lakes, ice fishing, snow shoeing, snow mobiling, and alpine skiing at the Camden Snow Bowl, to name a few.    This winter, Midcoast Mainers have been particularly fortunate in enjoying a long season of these various sports

 

 

 

 

One activity that is a great work-out and enjoys the snow and scenery, without costing anything, is cross-country skiing.  The best place for cross country skiing in the Camden/ Rockland area is right in Lincolnville at Tanglewood www.tanglewood4h.org .  There are 12 miles of enchanting trails that are groomed (with snowmobile) by Tanglewood volunteers specifically for hikers, snow-shoers, and cross country skiers.  The trails are posted at the entrance of Tanglewood and give you the option of skiing over the Ducktrap River via a suspension footbridge,  along the river, or a long loop in the woods.  One trail will take you beyond the Tanglewood boundaries to Cobbtown Road if you are up for a longer trek.   It is truly magical and because the trails are protected by trees, the snow seems to last a lot longer than what you see around town.

The Irish Word for clover is seamrog which was anglicized as “shamrock”.  An estimated 500,000 live Shamrocks are harvested and shipped out of the growing fields in Northern Ireland in anticipation of St Patrick’s Day on March 17.  A sprig of Shamrock is attached to the clothing with a pin as a symbol of Irish pride and Heritage.

Historically, the Druids used Shamrock as a lucky charm.  They believed the world worked its powers in multiples of 3.   Around the 5^th century, Saint Patrick used the Shamrock to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity.

The term “wearing o’ the green” is derived from the custom of wearing the Shamrock on the lapel.

 

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day !

WINTER FUN

 

Although winter isn’t really over yet, we can start to think about spring. But before we forget how much snow and cold a Maine winter can produce, it might be worth remembering all the fun we had skating, skiing, tobogganing or simply building a snowman. Perhaps we should mention here that the world’s largest SNOWWOMAN was constructed in Bethel, Maine last winter. Since there was no challenge to that record this year the folks in Bethel took the year off. I was disappointed when I recently passed by the site of last years “Olympia” and saw only a snow covered field where last year stood the most incredible snowman/woman. I don’t remember all the statistics, but for scale, let it be noted that the eyelashes are six foot long skis. The media, and the Guinness Book of Records reports “Olympia” as being 122 ft and 1 inch tall and weighing in at 13,000,000 lbs. She didn’t melt away until July. Now you couldn’t have that much fun in the city could you?